And so, a month had passed.
Today was the Delinquent Leader Group meeting at Ranoa Magic University.
That was wrong.
It was the Special Students' homeroom.
The attendees were the same as always.
Six people, minus Nanahoshi and Badigardi.
Me, Zanoba, Julie, Cliff, Linia, and Pursena.
Nanahoshi, the advisor, and Badigardi, the special consultant, were absent.
---
Right now, I was troubled about something.
My sister Norn.
Ever since she started living in the dorms, there had been zero progress between us.
If anything, she straight-up ignored me when we passed in the hallway.
Or sometimes she'd give me a look of undisguised contempt.
Well, the contemptuous looks were probably just my persecution complex, but...
Anyway, we couldn't get along.
Well, whatever. It's fine.
It's fine. Really.
A little lonely, but it's fine.
It's not like siblings are obligated to get along or anything.
Even if we're not close day to day, if something happens, I'll be on Norn's side.
If something happens, I can become a monster parent.
Yeah.
The position of Delinquent Leader really comes in handy at times like these.
Even if the homeroom teacher lets bullying slide, I can do something about it.
Because I know Geenus, I can consult with the vice-principal.
Having someone above the teacher to appeal to is a big deal.
I should send Geenus a mid-year gift next time.
But over this past month, Norn apparently hadn't made a single friend.
When I spot her in the hallway, she's usually alone.
She doesn't look lonely, but watching her makes me feel unsettled.
Well, you can get by without friends.
But is she doing okay in class?
Is she doing okay in the dorms?
I'm genuinely worried.
That said, something feels off about me intervening.
When it comes to first-year acquaintances, I have one delinquent who's top dog among the first-years.
But if I tried to force something using that kind of connection, I'd definitely get found out and she'd end up hating me.
Actually, what was that first-year's name again?
I remember he looked like a Siberian Husky puppy.
"The Boss hasn't been himself lately, nya."
"I know, right?"
While I was worrying, Linia and Pursena popped their heads in.
The two of them, chattering away with their nya this and nya that.
They were idols among the beast tribe guys.
Ever since they reconciled with Princess Ariel through me, they were often surrounded by their followers in the hallway.
They probably didn't have the problem of few friends.
"For the Boss who's feeling down, we've prepared a present, nya."
"It took us a whole month to get it ready."
With that, Linia placed a bag she'd been keeping beside her onto the desk.
It was pretty big.
What was inside?
"Whoa, don't look inside until you get home, nya."
"Open it somewhere where nobody can see, secretly."
Ooh, suspicious.
What is it.
Could it be... powder?
H/tturn powder?
In the eastern parts of the Northern Lands and parts of the Demon Continent, a powder that gives you a sense of euphoria was making the rounds.
This country didn't have a "Powder: Absolutely Prohibited" law.
Miris and Asura apparently had such laws, but not around here.
No, of course I had no intention of touching any powder.
If there were dependency or withdrawal symptoms, my mid-tier detoxification magic wouldn't cure it.
I'd heard you needed at least Saint-tier to suppress withdrawal from that kind of powder.
Besides, I wasn't in enough of a bind to rely on powder.
But it might come in handy for something.
I'd keep it just in case. If I ever desperately needed money, I could sell it or whatever.
"Thank you very much."
"Don't mention it, nya."
"It's tough being under the Boss."
Oh, right.
Come to think of it, they were dorm residents too.
After six years in the dorms, they'd have plenty of connections.
Maybe I should ask them for some advice.
"Actually, the thing I'm worried about is my sister."
"Sister? Oh yeah, we met her the other day. The one dressed like a maid, nya."
"She was at the market. We knew by the smell. She reeked of the Boss's scent, nya."
Apparently Aisha and the two of them had run into each other in town.
The maid sister slept beside me often, so she probably smelled like me.
"Not that one—the older sister who's been staying in the dorms since a month ago."
"Huh? The Boss has two of them, nya?"
"You're a dorm resident?"
The two exchanged glances.
They'd either not met Norn, or if they had, they hadn't noticed her.
She hadn't come into contact with me, so she probably didn't smell like me either.
"Yes, but she seems to dislike me, and we haven't talked at all recently. What should I do to get along with her?"
"E-err... that's a tough one, nya."
"We could spread the word about what a great guy the Boss is, nya."
A propaganda campaign?
If word got around that Rudeus the Delinquent Leader was a super cool hero and popular guy, maybe Norn would talk to me a little.
Linia and Pursena doing it would probably just turn into the Legendary Tales of Badass Rudeus the Delinquent Leader, though.
I'd rather attack from the angle of, say, rescuing puppies.
The story of when I first met Julie might work.
"Oh, right. She apparently hasn't made any friends yet either.
It's only been a month, so I might be jumping to conclusions, but as a transfer student, she can't blend into the class and must be anxious."
"Th-that's right, nya. We don't know yet."
"Maybe there just hasn't been a trigger to talk, nya."
Something had been off about Linia and Pursena for a while now.
They seemed a little agitated.
When these two started acting shifty like this, they were hiding something.
"...You two haven't been messing with my sister behind my back, have you?"
"We-we would never do that, nya!"
"That's right! It's an affront to our honor! We properly follow the Boss's words: 'Don't bully the weak'!"
Is that so.
Then what was all this nervousness about?
Something was definitely suspicious.
But well, if I said something now, then even if Norn was being bullied, the two of them would help her out.
"B-Boss's sister, how old is she, nya?"
"Is she older or younger than the maid one?"
They were asking weird questions.
She was technically older, but only by a few hours.
"She's the same age as me. Ten years old."
"I-Is that so!"
"Then there's nothing to worry about. We haven't done anything, nya."
So they had done something after all.
Probably flexing on the new students or something.
Well, as long as it was just intimidation, that wasn't really a problem.
"Nya, Boss. About that bag..."
"If you don't like it, please don't be angry. We prepared it just for you, nya."
The two were visibly trembling.
Getting nervous when giving someone a gift was a universal thing.
It felt a little ominous, but also...
I was actually looking forward to opening it.
"Why would I get angry at something you prepared for me?"
Even if there was a dead mouse inside or something, I'd probably just be exasperated.
Then I noticed Cliff, sitting beside me, staring at me.
"What do you think, Cliff?"
I asked just in case.
"...Hmph, you can live just fine without friends!"
Cliff's words carried unusual weight.
Rest assured, you're not alone.
Elinariet is with you.
...Ah, of course I am too.
But even someone as dense as Cliff—when it came to my brotherly heart, I wished he'd at least make one acquaintance.
---
Lunchtime.
Nanahoshi had started showing up at the dining hall.
She must have realized the importance of meals too.
Though she was quiet during meals, of course.
"What are you looking at..."
"Nothing, really."
Every time I watched her, she'd glare.
The irony was that she was the one who had promoted cooking herself, yet she'd barely been eating until now.
Her cooking didn't taste great—she basically never made a pleased face while eating.
"It looks pretty bad."
"It is. I created the recipes myself, so that's just pathetic."
"The ingredients in this world aren't as good as in Japan, right."
"That's true."
"Is there anything you like to eat in this world?"
"Those potato chips at your house. Those were delicious."
Sylphie's recipe.
Simple things like that probably had fewer taste differences between worlds.
"Want me to make them again sometime?"
"...I'll pass."
Good, good. Next time she came over to take a bath, I'd have some ready.
But over this past month, I hadn't spotted Badigardi anywhere.
Not even once in the dining hall.
I'd wanted to talk to him about the Ruijerd situation.
Although, thanks to his absence, Julie's table manners had improved.
Ginger was teaching Julie manners at the table.
If Badigardi had been around, this never would have happened.
But without Badigardi, something felt missing.
Was it really his laughter that was essential?
I'd read somewhere that laughter produces happiness chemicals.
"FWAHAHAHAHA!"
"Wh-what are you laughing about all of a sudden!? Did I do something!?"
"Master?"
"Grand Master...?"
I'd tried laughing casually, but all it did was attract stares and embarrass me.
I couldn't pull off the Badigardi act.
"What are you laughing about?"
Luke appeared right on cue.
He was as handsome as ever, but today he was alone.
No entourage.
No Sylphie either.
"I was thinking of laughing to summon Her Majesty the Demon King, since she hasn't shown up."
"I see... Rudeus. Could you come to the student council room for a moment?"
Luke's expression was somewhat strained.
Had some problem arisen?
"Sure."
I wolfed down my lunch and followed Luke.
Luke was slightly angry.
His stride was rougher than usual.
When we entered the student council room, the usual two were there to greet us.
Ariel's expression was her usual composure, but her complexion seemed a little off.
Sylphie also wore an uneasy look.
On the desk before them sat something like a small pouch.
A problem had apparently arisen early in the new semester.
"Good afternoon. Has something come up?"
"Yes..."
Ariel nodded.
With a sigh mixed in.
This sounded like a hassle.
"Well, recently, several new students in the girls' dormitory haven't been looking well."
"Oh?"
New students in the girls' dorm.
This could be related to Norn.
"When we looked into it, the ones affected seemed to be girls with small chests and pretty faces."
Could Norn be caught up in this too?
If so, I had to cooperate.
If I could elegantly solve a major problem here, I might earn some respect as her brother.
"Today, when we spoke at length with one of the victims, she said that Linia and Pursena had, um..."
Linia and Pursena were apparently involved.
I'd been told they weren't bullying the weak.
Maybe they were shaking people down.
Cornering female students with dried bonito flakes and jerky in their bags...
"She said they forced her to take off her underwear right then and there."
Underwear...?
"..."
My gaze shot to the bag beside me.
No way.
No, no way.
"When we gathered more information, apparently the two of them had been saying things during meals like, 'This will make the Boss happy.'"
"..."
So this bag was full of panties.
And not freshly washed ones, either.
What a disaster.
Who the hell had asked them to do this?
...The part of me that was a little happy about it made me sick.
"Ariel then said that the panties they'd collected were put into a single bag, and..."
As she spoke, Ariel quietly directed her gaze toward the bag in my possession.
Every gaze in the room converged on the bag.
They'd probably gotten intelligence on the bag's appearance too.
And most likely, nine times out of ten, this bag contained panties.
A bag stuffed to the brim with dreams.
"Rudeus, I'm sorry, but..."
"This bag was given to me this morning by Linia and Pursena.
I was told not to look inside until I'm home alone, so I haven't checked. But if that's the case, the contents are most likely... those items."
I got ahead of it. You didn't want to be on the defensive with this kind of thing.
"I see. Just to confirm... did you order them to do this?"
"No, I did not."
I answered firmly.
A misstep here was unacceptable.
I had to respond with dignified composure.
It was a misunderstanding, after all.
"You had no involvement with Rudeus?"
"None whatsoever."
Seriously, why would anyone come up with such an insane scheme.
The very month my sister entered the dorms.
Damn it, how was I supposed to explain this?
The way to clear up the misunderstanding was...
"Very well, I'll believe you."
Ariel said that with a small exhale.
She believed me.
There was no evidence, of course.
"Thank you."
"No, I thought it was strange too.
You spend such passionate nights with Sylphie—why would you need anyone else..."
Wait, our passionate nights were common knowledge?
Did that mean the embarrassing line I'd said last night had gotten out too?
"...Sylphie. Have you been telling the Princess about our... nighttime intimacies?"
"N-no! I never said anything like that! Ariel, what do you mean!?"
Sylphie was shaking her head frantically.
Well, yeah—even close friends didn't share details of their intimate life with their husbands.
Even if she had, it wouldn't really be a problem.
As long as Sylphie wasn't badmouthing me behind my back saying something like "My boyfriend's totally packing a short one."
"No, I was just testing. I'm glad your married life is going well."
Ariel said that with a straight face.
Whatever.
But why did those two do something like that...
Collecting panties wasn't something normal people came up with.
Wait, now that I thought about it, I vaguely remembered someone saying that kind of thing before.
Something about collecting female students' panties...
I'd thought it was a joke, but apparently it really happened.
Yeah, it's not my fault.
I had nothing to do with it.
I'd go with that interpretation.
"Well, I think it was a misguided act of good will, so I'll have a word with them myself.
Oh, please return this to the victims on behalf of Princess Ariel.
And of course, I haven't looked inside, nor touched anything."
With that, I handed the bag to Ariel.
Linia and Pursena hadn't meant any harm.
I needed to talk to them properly.
Something about how I didn't need anything other than freshly removed ones...
If they wanted to please me, they should strip in front of me.
No, that's not what I meant.
Wrong, wrong.
"Yes, understood."
Ariel checked the bag's contents and nodded.
Case closed.
"But still, this much underwear—aren't you a little disappointed?"
Ariel said that.
While glancing at Sylphie.
"That's an affront. I have no interest in underwear whatsoever."
"...You're right, I apologize."
"No, I'm just glad there was no misunderstanding."
Phew, that was close.
If I'd taken it home, I wouldn't have known what to do with it.
In my panic, I probably would've started pickling them in sake to make some kind of panties wine.
And then Sylphie or Aisha would've found it and looked at me with contempt, no doubt.
"But hey, I'm relieved. I was wondering if maybe I wasn't satisfying you."
Sylphie's candid remark loosened the atmosphere in the room ever so slightly.
Sylphie immediately realized what she'd said and turned crimson.
Just then, the bell signaling the end of lunch rang.
"Oh, we need to go. We'll be late for class."
"My apologies. Linia and Pursena are to blame."
"No, these things happen."
Luke opened the door and gestured for us to leave.
I complied and stepped out.
Ariel and Sylphie followed.
Luke came out last and locked the door.
"Let's go."
As I started walking, Ariel fell into step beside me.
Sylphie and Luke were behind us.
I probably should've walked behind them too in a situation like this.
"Oh."
Just as I was thinking that, Norn appeared around the corner.
She looked around nervously, and when she spotted me, her lips pressed into a tight line.
"Norn, what's wrong? Class is about to start."
"..."
Norn turned away with a huff.
Right where she was facing stood Ariel.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm the student council president of this school. My name is Ariel."
When Ariel smiled warmly at her, Norn's face turned beet red.
The charisma was unreal.
"I-I'm Norn Greyrat..."
"Yes. Norn, what's the matter?
Class is about to start, you know."
"Um, well. I don't know where the third practice room is..."
"I see..."
Norn, left behind during a room change.
Poor thing.
That was subtly brutal.
She really was being isolated in class.
"Luke, show her the way."
"Yes. Come on, this way."
Luke gently guided Norn by the back, escorting her off.
Norn's face was red—she looked embarrassed.
Luke was handsome, after all.
But Luke was no good. He was a womanizer.
"..."
Suddenly, Norn glanced back at me.
At me, Ariel, and Sylphie.
Her eyes darted between the three of us.
Then she looked away again with a huff.
What did I do...?
---
After school.
I called Linia and Pursena behind the school building.
I needed to have a word about today's incident.
Behind the school building.
A classic setting for a youthful school scene.
Linia and Pursena showed up looking rather pleased with themselves.
"What's this about, nya? Being summoned to a place like this?"
"Is this a confession of love? If you're taking a concubine, you'd better talk to Fitz properly first, nya."
They looked self-satisfied, but...
"About that bag. I gave it to Princess Ariel during lunch.
I told her to return it to the original owners."
At that, their faces went blank.
Then they immediately elbowed the person next to them.
"See? It was no good after all, nya."
"It's Linia's fault! You kept saying the Boss would definitely be happy!"
"Pursena was totally on board too, nya!"
"I said we should test the waters with just my panties first!"
"Just mine wouldn't be fair, nya!"
"So I collected ones from the dorm residents!"
"You mean ones from me!"
"I have big breasts, so I can't do it!"
An ugly blame-shifting routine began.
Who was the flat-chest fetishist here?
I liked big breasts too, you know.
"Shut up."
I shut them down for now.
"What did I tell you before? Didn't I say not to bully the weak?"
The two trembled.
"We-we weren't bullying anyone, nya!"
"Th-that's right, we properly asked for them..."
Asked for them.
There probably wasn't a single first-year who could refuse when these two asked.
"You're beast tribe—you should understand the humiliation of having your clothes stripped from you..."
"We-we properly gave them replacement underwear, nya!"
"Yet apparently many of the first-years still looked unhappy?"
"Maybe the sizes didn't fit. We didn't take them from any girls who really refused, nya."
Hmm?
That didn't quite match what Ariel had told me.
Honestly, if they'd forcibly stripped people, that was disgusting enough that I'd want to strip the two of them naked in public.
They wouldn't understand until they experienced it.
"I-I said we wouldn't be angry even if you didn't like it, nya..."
"It was an unfortunate misunderstanding. Please forgive us..."
The two looked terrified.
But thinking back, they'd done it for me.
Because I'd been looking down.
They'd thought about what might cheer me up and gathered things accordingly.
I just didn't happen to like it—the act itself wasn't wrong.
No, of course, from the victims' perspective, it was pretty disgusting.
But Linia and Pursena had meant well.
Unlike in my previous life, they hadn't done it to humiliate anyone.
It was like, well, like kids bringing cicada shells home as a gift.
Was it really necessary to overreact and deliver harsh punishment?
"If any of them were really hurt, I'll make the two of them do a full nude apology in front of everyone."
"I-I understand, nya."
"I'm sorry..."
Well, I'd leave the rest to Ariel's handling.
Somehow, I couldn't bring myself to feel angry.
Maybe because these two were practically family.
Had I become someone who played favorites too?
"So, why did you decide to give me underwear as a present?"
When I asked, the two stared at me blankly.
That look of "What are you talking about?"
"Because the Boss's sect worships panties, nya?"
"We heard you kept them enshrined reverently."
Ah.
So it was my fault.
Showing them my sacred relics that one time had caused this.
"That's not it. I don't worship panties or treat them as gods.
Those were items that a person of great importance actually wore. Sacred vestments, if you will."
"S-so that's what it was, nya."
"We really thought it was the Panty Faith."
I did like panties.
But that was a separate matter entirely.
"So please, don't do something like today's incident again."
"Got it, nya."
"We'll be careful."
And then, without thinking, I added one more thing:
"If you really want to treat me, I'd prefer if you stripped for me right here."
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
I'd committed a verbal misstep.
Linia and Pursena were grinning.
"See? He's totally charmed by our allure, nya."
"Can't help it. The Boss is still a man, after all. He can't stay calm in front of us."
Tch, annoying.
They reacted like this when I said I wanted panties.
These two might actually be into me...
No, that wasn't right.
Something was different.
There was definitely affection there, but it was different from what Sylphie gave me.
I couldn't articulate the difference.
I didn't know, but well, I'd call it friendship.
Anyway, the conversation was over.
We left behind the school building.
My reputation had taken a bit of a hit, but...
Well, it wasn't that big a deal.
I wasn't the type to care about rumors.
While the three of us were moving, we ran into a group coming out of the school building.
First-years.
From the way they were carrying bags, they were probably heading back to the dorms.
They deliberately passed by without making eye contact.
At the very end of the group was Norn.
"...!"
Norn looked at me, then at Linia and Pursena on either side of me.
After an expression of utter disbelief, she glared at me with all her might and swept past.
Linia and Pursena turned around, looking displeased.
"What was that attitude from a first-year, nya? The nerve."
"Fuck you. I'll teach you who's really in charge."
"Just so you know, that girl is my sister."
The moment I said that, both their ears drooped pathetically.
"W-well, someone that spirited is fine, nya."
"She's actually really cute."
Easy to read, these two.
I gave them each a pat on the shoulder.
"Please get along with her."
"Of course, nya."
"We won't do anything bad to her."
Still, I wanted to talk to Norn more, but I wasn't sure how to go about it.
Well, as long as she managed fine without talking, that was enough.
---
And so the days passed without incident.
Norn and I still couldn't get along.
But she kept her promise to come home once every ten days.
Despite claiming to dislike me, she actually listened to what I said.
I'd expected more pushback, but she never once openly defied me to my face.
She did make sour faces, though.
Hmm...
Come to think of it, excluding when we were too young to remember, I'd only met my sisters once before.
Thinking we could suddenly get along like normal siblings was probably the mistake.
My relationship with Aisha was the abnormal one.
Being family didn't mean you could automatically get along.
I knew that better than anyone.
If anything, being family was precisely what made certain things unforgivable.
Like how I'd punched Paul in front of Norn.
Paul and I had reconciled and moved on.
But inside Norn, it might still be smoldering as something she couldn't forgive.
...If.
If she ever brought that up, I'd apologize.
Honestly, I'd want to say "Don't bring up something from so long ago," but I wouldn't say that, if nothing else.
Well, there was no rush.
We'd be together for decades to come.
Whether it took a year or two, we could take our time and get along eventually.
Siblings didn't need to be clingy with each other, after all.
Moderate closeness, moderate distance.
And it would take time to find that balance.
Just as I was thinking this...
Norn shut herself in her room.